Blind Raise (NZ) Remains Unbeaten in ANZAC Day Stakes

Graduates of Karaka 2025 have made their presence felt in feature two-year-old racing in Melbourne this season, and that continued with the undefeated Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) in the A$175,000 Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Blind Raise added his name to a list that also features the Group Three TBV Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) winner Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State), while Oak Lightning (NZ) (Per Incanto) ran second in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) in his only start to date.

Blind Raise was bred by The Oaks Stud and is a grandson of their seven-time Group One winner Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross), who was New Zealand’s Horse of the Year in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The Oaks offered Blind Raise in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, where trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young purchased him for $70,000.

From an unblemished two-start, two-win career, Blind Raise has earned A$140,725 with the promise of much more in store.

Busuttin and Young lined up Blind Raise for a debut appearance at Sandown on April 6, and he scored a stylish win by two and a quarter lengths. The expat New Zealand trainers had no hesitation in raising the bar to stakes level three weeks later, and Blind Raise produced more of the same in his second start.

Ridden by Beau Mertens, Blind Raise settled in second on the outside of the leader before taking command early in the home straight. He kicked away and won by two lengths from the strong-finishing Profligate (Xtravagant).

“He was pretty impressive,” Busuttin said. “The market said he would be hard to beat, and they were right.

“You always want to see them do that, especially at their second start. He’s taken that next step and he’s done it pretty easily. I’d say he floated a bit when he was out in front by himself, but it’s good to get the job done.

“He’ll head up to Queensland now, where we’ll have a crack at the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Group Two, 1400m, May 30) and the JJ Atkins Stakes (Group One, 1600m, June 13).”